The New Jersey Council on Special Transportation (NJ COST), a statewide not-for-profit advocacy association that for more than 32 years has provided information and support for community-based transit services, presented the organizations yearly recognition awards at the 18th Annual Community Transportation & Paratransit Expo on Friday, Sept. 20 at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.

According to NJ COST President Michael Vieira, the recognition awards have been presented since 1989 and have been a highlight of the organization for many years. “Each year, the New Jersey Council on Special Transportation presents recognition awards and this year is no different and we are proud to recognize those in our industry who excel,” Vieira said.

Vieira continued “It is very difficult for us here in New Jersey to judge our peers, so for the last several years, NJ COST has asked out of state transportation associations to review the nomination forms.” The 2013 nominations were reviewed by the Community Transportation Association of America’s Region 2, United We Ride Ambassador and a team of representatives from the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

The NJ Council on Special Transportation recognized five categories; Driver, Dispatcher, Maintenance, Administrative and Outstanding System of the Year.

2013 Administrative Employee of the Year – Anissia Mitchell, Veolia Transportation – the contractor for Union County Paratransit.

Mitchell began her paratransit career in 1988 first starting off as a driver and continuously moving up as road supervisory, operations supervisor and then to Assistant General Manager. Mitchell’s nomination application states that she “walks the walk and talks the talk.” It further goes on to say that “No one is indispensable, but what Anissia dispenses is what every system would want…she is paratransit…she feels it, exudes it…she is it.”
“It gives me great pleasure in announcing that Veolia Transportation’s Anissia Mitchell has been selected as NJ COST’s 2013 Administrative Employee of the Year.” said NJ COST President Michael Vieira.
2013 Driver of the Year – Jonetta Jones, Sen-Han Transit, Burlington County Division.
2013 Dispatcher of the Year – Debbie J. Scott, Sussex County Skylands Ride.
2013 Maintenance Employee of the Year – Mark Wielechowski, County of Cape May.
2013 Outstanding System of the Year – Bergen County Community Transportation
“NJ COST is honored to recognize these accomplishments and present the 2013 NJ Council on Special Transportation’s Outstanding System of the Year Award to Bergen County Community Transportation,” said NJ COST President Michael Vieira.
The New Jersey Council on Special Transportation membership consists of transportation representatives from New Jersey’s 21 counties as well as a variety of other agencies, including municipal, state, not-for-profit and private, who specialize in providing transportation services to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, veterans, the economically disadvantaged and in some cases the general public where conventional fixed route transit is not available.